Sewed seam ripper



Aug. 29, 1950 LAWRENCE SEWED SEAM RIPPER Filed Dec. 13, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 SEWED SEAM RIPPER Ruth M. Lawrence, Homewood, Ala., assignor of one-half to Merritt L. Walls, Birmingham, Ala.

Application December 13, 1948, Serial N 0. 64,969

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a sewed seam ripper for use in combination with a regular sewing machine of the type generally used in homes and dress making establishments. It has for its main objects to provide such a device that will be highly efficient for its purpose, simple in structure, extremely durable, and easy to use.

It often becomes necessary to rip seams of garments, especially dresses and the like. The present method generally used is to cut the threads of the seam with scissors or a safety razor blade or sharp knife which is very slow and tedious. With the present ripper inserted in the needle holder of a regular type sewing machine the seam can be passed along under the cutting edge of the ripper as it is moved upward and downword by operation of the machine and thus sever the seam threads by similar action to sewing a seam with a needle.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawing and description.

By referring generally to the drawing, part of this application, it will be observed first that the figures are very much enlarged. Fig. 1 is a view.

on line I-I of Fig. 2 assuming Fig. 2 enlarged to equal size of Fig. 1; Fig. 2 is a side view of the entire ripper; Fig. 3 is an edge view of the ripper; Fig. 4 is an enlarged view on line 44 of Fig. 5 of the blade end portion of the ripper; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a view on line 6--6 of Fig. 5. I

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the ripper comprises a piece of steel with a comparatively large upper portion l as a shank of a size adapted for being inserted and held in a regular sewing machine needle holder (not shown) instead of an ordinary sewing needle. The large portion is provided with a partly flat side 2 in order that the set screw (not shown) of the needle holder prevent the ripper from turning out of line while in use. The larger portion tapers and converges into a smaller portion 3 that defines a blade 4 at its bottom edge. The edge length of the blade is at an angle of approximately thirty degrees compared to the plane of the lower portion of the shank as plainly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6. Also the edge of the blade is at a slight angle compared to the plane of the flat face of the shank as plainly shown in Fig. 1, and indicated by A-lines in Fig. 5. The slight groove 5 is the result of the ripper being made by compressing the edges of the material toward each other. may also be made from round or square material without any groove.

The ripper 5 From the foregoing it will appear that the ripper is a small device not much larger than a regular sewing machine needle and is adapted for use in the needle holder of a sewing machine instead of a needle.

The ripper may be made of any material suitable for the purpose, but I prefer to use steel. Also may be made in various sizes.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise details of structure, but reserve the right to make all modifications and changes so long as they remain within the spirit and scope of the invention and the following claims.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a sewed seam ripper for use in combination with a sewing machine comprising; a small steel bar, one end of the bar designated as the top and holding portion thereof, the other end being formed as a small tapered cutting blade, the middle portion of the bar being substantially round, the extreme cutting edge of the blade disposed at an angle of approximately 30 degrees compared to the longest side plane of the round portion and also being substantially blunt from the extreme cutting edge to the junction of the tapered portion with the round middle portion, said blunt shape being adapted for suddenly separating a seam being ripped by the blade.

2. In a sewed seam ripper for use in combination with a sewing machine comprising; a small steel bar, one end of the bar being adapted for holding the bar for use, the other end formed as a cutting blade, the middle portion being substantially round, the extreme edge of said blade being disposed at an angle of approximately 30 degrees compared to the longest side of the round portion, each side of the tapered portion of the blade being at an angle of approximately 30 degrees compared to the major center axis of the round portion to thus form a blade with a sharp cutting edge having comparatively short sides leading from the cutting edge to the junctions with the round portion.

RUTH M. LAWRENCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,010,009 Brlghtwell Aug. 6, 1935 2,026,050 Lewis Dec. 31, 1935 

